MEXICAN/AMERICAN Eric Molina, 33, says he is fully aware he is the underdog going into his June 13 challenge of WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, yet the man with the 23-2(17) record says people cannot possibly know how confident he is or about the tough times he has endured as a fighter on the way up.
Looking forward to making history as the first Mexican/American to hold a world heavyweight title, Molina spoke exclusively to Boxing News:
Q: When were you first told youโd got the shot against Wilder?
Eric Molina: โIโll have had around six full weeks by the time of the fight. We just signed the fight a few days ago. I first had an inkling in early May that Iโd get the fight, then they asked us to come to Miami to discuss the fight for real. Then we put together a training camp down here in Texas.โ
Q: And were you in the gym before then anyway? Are you in good shape with six weeks to go?
E.M: โI was in the gym and I was in good shape; not good enough shape to fight for a world title, but good shape. Now Iโm working real hard for this. Iโm sparring big guys, 6โ6 and 6โ7โ to get ready.โ
Q: Wilder is red-hot right now and you are a big underdog in the eyes of most. Does that bother you at all?
E.M:ย โOh, of course [Iโm the underdog]. This fight, itโs in his backyard, itโs his show. But this is a voluntary defence for him and he can fight anyone in the WBC Top 15. People can say what they want. And I know why I was picked: heโs [Wilder] looked at my record and seen those two losses (by stoppage, to Chris Arreola and, in Molinaโs pro debut, to Ashanti Jordan; both first-round KO defeats). But my record, thatโs just an overview of my career. People cannot possibly know what Iโm really like or what Iโve gone through as a fighter and I donโt expect them to. Itโs okay. But I have a lot to focus on and I hope heโs ready for this fight.
โThe Arreola fight, I had just three weeks notice and I was nowhere near in the right frame of mind to have taken that fight. I was a 220-pound heavyweight back then, inexperienced, yet I still hurt him. I actually took a lot of confidence away from that loss, because it showed me I do have what it takes. And this is one of the things people donโt know about me: Iโve hurt every single fighter Iโve fought, either in a fight or in sparring. Now Iโm 245 pounds. My fight with Tony Grano (in 2013, two fights after the Arreola loss), for that fight I had just three weeks notice and I did absolutely no sparring for that fight. And after that fight, Don King wouldnโt let me fight for 13 months. Me and King had our ups and downs. But I beat him over 12-rounds, and he is a pretty big puncher. I won the NABF title, so that was a pretty big win for me.โ
Q: Do you feel there are still some possible question marks over Wilderโs chin and can you exploit them with your punching power?
E.M: โIโve seen some things in the way he fights that I can use. The thing is, when you are fighting a big guy like him, 6โ7โ you have to make adjustments. [Bermane] Stiverne, he never made those adjustments, he just stood there. Iโm working with big guys now and I will make those adjustments. Aside from Stiverne, Wilder hasnโt really fought a whole lot of good fighters. Iโm not saying all of his first 31 opponents were bums, but they were not me; they didnโt have my mindset and what Iโm bringing. The Malik Scott fight, Iโve watched a lot and Iโm still not convinced it was legit. Malik is a friend of mine as well. And Stiverne, I worked with him in camp before the Wilder fight, and he says something was wrong in that fight and I believe him. Myself, this is the first time Iโve had long enough to get ready; in the past Iโve taken fights on short notice. So for me to get six weeks to fight Deontay Wilder, itโs the best position for me to be in.โ
Wilder, via his trainer Jay Deas, had the following to say on his upcoming opponent and fight:
โI commend Eric for taking the fight, but I canโt give this title up. It means too much to me. Itโs my time and I want to be an active champion. Thatโs why Iโm fighting less than five months from winning the title, even through an injured hand. I donโt want to be one of those guys like the ones who held this belt before who fought every year or two. Iโm excited this fight is at home. The place will be rocking and I canโt wait.โ